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TE
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FL
Y
The A to Z of
Correct English
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The A to Z of
Correct
English
ANGELA BURT
2nd edition
howtobooks
Published by How To Books Ltd, 3 Newtec Place,
Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RE. United Kingdom.
Tel: (01865) 793806. Fax: (01865) 248780.
email: info@howtobooks.co.uk
www.howtobooks.co.uk
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced
or stored in an information retrieval system (other than for
purposes of review) without the express permission of the
publisher in writing.
# Copyright 2002 Angela Burt
First edition 2000
Second edition 2002
Angela Burt has asserted the right to be identiﬁed as the author
of this work, in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British
Library.
Cover Design by Baseline Arts, Oxford
Produced for How To Books by Deer Park Productions
Typeset by PDQ Typesetting, Stoke-on-Trent, Staﬀs.
Printed and bound by The Cromwell Press, Trowbridge,
Wiltshire
NOTE: The material contained in this book is set out in good
faith for general guidance and no liability can be accepted
for loss or expense incurred as a result of relying in particular
circumstances on statements made in the book. Laws and
regulations are complex and liable to change, and readers
should check the current position with the relevant authorities
before making personal arrangements.
Introduction
The A–Z of Correct English is a reference book which has been
written for the student and the general reader. It aims to tackle the
basic questions about spelling, punctuation, grammar and word usage
that the student and the general reader are likely to ask.
Throughout the book there are clear explanations, and exemplar
sentences where they are needed. When it’s helpful to draw
attention to spelling rules and patterns, these are given so that the
reader is further empowered to deal with hundreds of related words.
The aim always has been to make the reader more conﬁdent and
increasingly self-reliant.
This is a fast-track reference book. It is not a dictionary although,
like a dictionary, it is arranged alphabetically. It concentrates on
problem areas; it anticipates diﬃculties; it invites cross-references. By
exploring punctuation, for example, and paragraphing, it goes far
beyond a dictionary’s terms of reference. It is not intended to
replace a dictionary; it rather supplements it.
Once, in an evening class, one of my adult students said, ‘If
there’s a right way to spell a word, I want to know it.’ On another
occasion, at the end of a punctuation session on possessive
apostrophes, a college student said rather angrily, ‘Why wasn’t I told
this years ago?’
This book has been written to answer all the questions that my
students over the years have needed to ask. I hope all who now use
it will have their questions answered also and enjoy the conﬁdence
and the mastery that this will bring.
Angela Burt
v
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How to use this book
For ease of reference, all the entries in this book have been listed
alphabetically rather than being divided into separate spelling, usage,
punctuation and grammar sections.
You will therefore ﬁnd hypocrisy following hyphens;
paragraphing following paraﬃn; who or whom? following
whiskey or whisky?; and so on.
WANT TO CHECK A SPELLING?
Cross-referencing will help you locate words with tricky initial
letters.
aquaint
Wrong spelling. See
ACQUAINT.
Plural words are given alongside singular nouns, with crossreferencing to relevant rules and patterns.
knife (singular)
knives (plural). See PLURALS (v).
There is also a general section on plurals and another on foreign
plurals.
If it’s the complication of adding an ending that is causing you
trouble, you will ﬁnd some words listed with a useful crossreference.
dining or dinning? dine + ing = dining (as in dining room)
din + ing = dinning (noise dinning in ears)
See ADDING ENDINGS (i) and (ii).
There are individual entries for confusing endings like -able/-ible;
-ance,-ant/-ence,-ent; -cal/-cle; -ise or -ize? and for confusing
beginnings like ante-/anti-; for-/fore-; hyper-/hypo-; inter-/intraand many others.
vii
A
abandon
abandoned, abandoning, abandonment
(not -bb-)
abattoir
(not -bb-)
abbreviate
abbreviated, abbreviating, abbreviation
(not -b-)
abbreviations
See
-able/-ible
Adjectives ending in -able or -ible can be
diﬃcult to spell because both endings
sound identical. You’ll always need to be
on guard with these words and check
each word individually when you are in
doubt, but here are some useful
guidelines:
CONTRACTIONS.
(i) Generally use -able when the
companion word ends in -ation:
abominable, abomination
irritable, irritation
(ii) Generally use -ible when the
companion word ends in -ion:
comprehensible, comprehension
digestible, digestion
(iii) Use -able after hard c and hard g:
practicable (c sounds like k)
navigable (hard g)
(iv) Use -ible after soft c and soft g:
forcible (c sounds like s)
legible (g sounds like j)
See also
ADDING ENDINGS (ii); SOFT C AND
SOFT G.
1
ABRIDGEMENT/ABRIDGMENT
abridgement/
abridgment
Both spellings are correct. Use either but be
consistent within one piece of writing.
abscess
This is a favourite word in spelling
quizzes.
(not absess or abcess)
absence
absent (not absc-)
absolute
absolutely (not absoloute, absoloutely)
absorb
absorption. Notice how b changes to p
here.
abstract nouns
See
accept or except?
We ACCEPT your apology.
Everybody was there EXCEPT Stephen.
accessary
or accessory?
If you want to preserve the traditional
distinction in meaning between these two
words, use ACCESSARY to refer to
someone associated with a crime and
ACCESSORY to refer to something that is
added (a fashion accessory or car
accessories). However, the distinction has
now become blurred and it is perfectly
acceptable to use one spelling to cover
both meanings. Of the two, accessory is
the more widely used, but both are
correct.
accessible
(not -able)
accidentally
The adverb is formed by adding -ly to
accidental.
(not accidently)
accommodation
This is a favourite word in spelling quizzes
and is frequently seen misspelt on painted
signs.
(not accomodation or accommadation)
accross
Wrong spelling. See
accumulate
(not -mm-)
2
NOUNS.
ACROSS.
ADDING ENDINGS
achieve
achieved, achieving, achievement (not -ei-)
See also ADDING ENDINGS (ii.); EI/IE SPELLING
RULE.
Both spellings are correct but be
consistent within one piece of writing.
acquaint
acquainted (not aq-)
acquaintance
(not -ence)
acquiesce
acquiesced, acquiescing (not aq-)
acquiescence
(not -ance)
acquire
acquired, acquiring, acquisition
(not aq-)
acreage
Note that there are three syllables here.
(not acrage)
across
AM
FL
Y
acknowledgement/
acknowledgment
(not accross)
Traditional usage would distinguish
between these two words and reserve
-er for the person (an adapter of novels,
for instance) and -or for the piece of
electrical equipment. However, the
distinction has become very blurred and
the two spellings are considered by many
authorities to be interchangeable. Use
either for both meanings but be consistent
within a single piece of writing.
TE
adapter or adaptor?
addendum (singular)
addenda (plural)
See FOREIGN PLURALS.
adding endings
Usually endings (suﬃxes) can be added to
base words without any complications.
You just add them and that is that!
e.g. iron + ing = ironing
steam + er = steamer
list + less = listless
However, there are four groups of words
which need especial care. Fortunately,
there are some straightforward rules
­
3
ADDING ENDINGS
which save your learning thousands of
words individually.
(i)
The 1-1-1 rule
This rule applies to:
words of
ONE syllable
ending with
ONE consonant
preceded by
ONE vowel
e.g. drop, ﬂat, sun, win.
When you add an ending beginning
with a consonant to a l-l-l word, there
is no change to the base word:
drop + let
ﬂat + ly
win + some
= droplet
= ﬂatly
= winsome
When you add an ending beginning
with a vowel to a l-l-l word, you
double the ﬁnal letter of the base
word:
drop + ed
ﬂat + est
win + ing
sun + *y
=
=
=
=
dropped
ﬂattest
winning
sunny
*y counts as a vowel when it
sounds like i or e.
See VOWELS.
Treat qu as one letter:
quit + ing
quip + ed
= quitting
= quipped
Don’t double ﬁnal w and x. They
would look very odd and so we have
correctly:
tax + ing
paw + ed
= taxing
= pawed
(ii) The magic -e rule
This rule applies to all words ending
4
ADDING ENDINGS
with a silent -e.
e.g. hope, care, achieve, sincere,
separate.
When you add an ending beginning
with a consonant, keep the -e:
hope + ful
care + less
sincere + ly
separate + ly
achieve + ment
=
=
=
=
=
hopeful
careless
sincerely
separately
achievement
When you add an ending beginning
with a vowel, drop the -e:
hope + ing
care + er
sincere + ity
separate + ion
achieve + ed
=
=
=
=
=
hoping
carer
sincerity
separation
achieved
Do, however, keep the -e in words
like singeing (diﬀerent from singing)
and dyeing (diﬀerent from dying) and
whenever you need to keep the
identity of the base word clear (e.g.
shoeing, canoeing).
Do remember to keep the -e with
soft c and soft g words. It’s the e that
keeps them soft (courageous,
traceable). (See SOFT C AND SOFT G.)
Don’t keep the -e with these eight
exceptions to the rule: truly, duly,
ninth, argument, wholly, awful,
whilst, wisdom.
(iii) -y rule
This rule applies to all words ending
in -y. Look at the letter before the -y
in the base word.
It doesn’t matter at all what kind of
ending you are adding. When you add
an ending to a word ending in a
­
5
ADDING ENDINGS
vowel + y, keep the y:
portray + ed
= portrayed
employ + ment = employment
When you add an ending to a word
ending in a consonant + y, change
the y to i:
try +al
empty + er
pity + less
lazy + ness
=
=
=
=
trial
emptier
pitiless
laziness
Do keep the y when adding -ing. Two
i’s together would look very odd,
despite our two words ski-ing and
taxi-ing.
try + ing
empty + ing
= trying
= emptying
Don’t apply the rule in these fourteen
cases: daily, gaily, gaiety, laid, paid,
said, slain, babyhood, shyly, shyness,
dryness, slyness, wryly, wryness.
(iv) The 2-1-1 rule
This rule applies
words of
ending with
preceded by
to:
TWO syllables
ONE consonant
ONE vowel.
With this rule, it all depends on
which syllable of the word is stressed.
The 2-1-1 words below are stressed
on the ﬁrst syllable, and both vowel
and consonant endings are added
without any complications:
gossip
target
limit
eager
gossiping
targeted
limitless
eagerness
But note that kidnap, outﬁt, worship,
always double their ﬁnal letter:
6
ADDING ENDINGS
kidnapped, outﬁtter, worshipping
Take care with 2-1-1 words which are
stressed on the second syllable. There
is no change when you add a
consonant ending:
forget + ful
equip + ment
= forgetful
= equipment
Double the ﬁnal consonant of the base
word when you add a vowel ending:
forget + ing
equip + ed
forbid + en
begin + er
=
=
=
=
forgetting
equipped
forbidden
beginner
This rule is really valuable but you
must be aware of some exceptions:
" 2-1-1 words ending in -l seem to have
a rule all of their own. Whether the
stress is on the ﬁrst or the second
syllable, there is no change when a
consonant ending is added:
quarrel + some = quarrelsome
instal + ment
= instalment
Double the -l when adding a vowel
ending:
quarrel + ing
instal + ed
excel + ent
= quarrelling
= installed
= excellent
" Notice how the change of stress in
these words aﬀects the spelling:
confer
defer
infer
prefer
refer
transfer
See also
conferred
deferred
inferred
preferred
referred
transferred
conferring
deferring
inferring
preferring
referring
transferring
conference
deference
inference
preference
reference
transference
-ABLE/-IBLE; -ANCE,-ANT/-ENCE,-ENT;
-CAL/-CLE; -FUL;-LY.
7
ADDRESS
address
(not adr-)
adieu (singular)
adieus or adieux (plural)
See FOREIGN PLURALS.
adrenalin/adrenaline
Both spellings are correct.
adress
Wrong spelling. See
advantageous
advantage + ous
Keep the -e in this instance.
See SOFT C AND SOFT G.
adverse or averse?
These two words have diﬀerent meanings.
ADDRESS.
The ferries were cancelled owing to
ADVERSE weather conditions.
(= unfavourable)
She is not AVERSE to publicity.
(= opposed)
advertisement
advertise + ment
See ADDING ENDINGS (ii).
advice or advise?
My ADVICE is to forget all about it.
(noun = recommendation)
What would you ADVISE me to do?
(verb = recommend)
adviser or advisor?
Adviser is the traditionally correct British
spelling. Advisor is more common in
American English.
advisory
(not -ery)
aerial
Use the same spelling for the noun (a
television AERIAL) and the adjective (an
AERIAL photograph).
aﬀect or eﬀect?
Use these exemplar sentences as a guide:
Heavy drinking will AFFECT your liver.
(verb)
The EFFECT on her health was
immediate. (noun)
The new manager plans to EFFECT
sweeping changes. (verb = to bring about)
8
ALLEY OR ALLY?
afraid
(not aﬀraid)
ageing or aging?
Both spellings are correct but many would
prefer ageing as it keeps the identity of
the base word (age) more easily
recognised.
See ADDING ENDINGS (ii).
aggravate
Strictly speaking, aggravate means to make
worse.
His rudeness AGGRAVATED an already
explosive situation.
It is, however, widely used in the sense of
to irritate or to annoy. Be aware that
some authorities would regard this second
usage as incorrect.
aggressive
(not agr-)
agree to/agree with
The choice of preposition alters the
meaning of the verb:
I AGREED TO do what he advised.
I AGREED TO all the conditions.
I AGREED WITH all they said.
See PREPOSITIONS.
agreeable
agreement
(not agreable)
For grammatical agreement, see
SINGULAR
OR PLURAL?.
agressive
Wrong spelling. See
alga (singular)
algae (plural)
See FOREIGN PLURALS.
allege
(not -dge)
alley or ally?
An ALLEY is a little lane.
An ALLY is a friend.
alley (singular), alleys (plural)
ally (singular), allies (plural)
See PLURALS (iii).
AGGRESSIVE.
9
ALL MOST OR ALMOST?
all most or almost?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning. Use
these exemplar sentences as a guide:
They were ALL (= everyone) MOST kind.
The child was ALMOST (=nearly) asleep.
allowed or aloud?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning. Use
these exemplar sentences as a guide:
Are we ALLOWED (= permitted) to
smoke in here?
I was just thinking ALOUD (= out loud).
all ready or already?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning. Use
these exemplar sentences as a guide:
We are ALL (= everyone) READY.
It is ALL (= everything) READY.
She was ALREADY dead (= by then).
all right or alright?
Traditional usage would consider ALL
RIGHT to be correct and ALRIGHT to be
incorrect. However, the use of ‘alright’ is so
widespread that some would see it as
acceptable although the majority of educated
users would take care to avoid it.
all so or also?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning. Use
these exemplar sentences as a guide:
You are ALL (= everyone) SO kind.
You are ALSO (= in addition) generous.
all together or
altogether?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning. Use
these exemplar sentences as a guide:
They were ALL (= everybody) huddled
TOGETHER for warmth.
His situation is ALTOGETHER (= totally)
diﬀerent from yours.
allude or elude?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning.
ALLUDE means to refer to indirectly.
ELUDE means to evade capture or recall.
10
ALTERNATIVES
allusion, delusion
or illusion?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning.
An ALLUSION is an indirect reference.
A DELUSION is a false belief (often
associated with a mental disorder).
An ILLUSION is a deceptive appearance.
all ways or always?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning.
These three routes are ALL (= each of
them) WAYS into town.
She ALWAYS (= at all times) tells the
truth.
almost
See
a lot
Write as two words, not as one. Bear in
mind that this construction is slang and
not to be used in a formal context.
aloud
See
ALLOWED OR ALOUD?.
already
See
ALL READY OR ALREADY?.
altar or alter?
There is a diﬀerence in meaning.
ALL MOST OR ALMOST?.
The bride and groom stood solemnly
before the ALTAR.
Do you wish to ALTER (= change) the
arrangements?
alternate or
alternative?
alternatives
We visit our grandparents on
ALTERNATE Saturdays. (= every other
Saturday)
I ALTERNATE between hope and despair.
(= have each mood in turn)
An ALTERNATIVE plan would be to go
by boat. (= another possibility)
The ALTERNATIVES are simple: work or
go hungry. (= two choices)
Strictly speaking, the choice can be
between only two alternatives (one choice
or the other).
However, the word is frequently used
more loosely and this precise deﬁnition is
becoming lost.
11
ALTOGETHER
altogether
See
Alzheimer’s disease
(not Alze-)
amateur
(not -mm-)
ambiguity
Always try to anticipate any possible
confusion on the part of your reader.
Check that you have made your meaning
absolutely clear.
ALL TOGETHER OR ALTOGETHER?.
(i) Bear in mind that pronouns can be
very vague. Consider this sentence:
My brother told his friend that HE
had won ﬁrst prize in the local
photographic exhibition.
Who is ‘he’, my brother or his friend?
Rewrite more clearly:
(a) My brother congratulated his friend
on winning ﬁrst prize in the local
photographic exhibition.
(b) My brother, delighted to have won
ﬁrst prize in the local photographic
exhibition, told his friend.
The other possibility is rather clumsy
but is otherwise clear:
(c) My brother told his friend that he
(his friend) had won ﬁrst prize.
(d) My brother told his friend that he
(my brother) had won ﬁrst prize.
(ii) Position the adverb ONLY with great
care. It will refer to the word nearest
to it, usually the word following. This
may not be the meaning you
intended. See how crucial to the
meaning the position of ‘only’ can be:
ONLY Sean eats ﬁsh on Fridays.
(= No one else but Sean eats ﬁsh on
Fridays.)
12